Police: Driver was texting before deadly Lexington accident

LEXINGTON, N.C–Texting was likely the cause of an accident in Lexington that left one person dead Tuesday, according to Highway Patrol.

The two car accident happened near a construction zone on Business 85 North near Greensboro Road.

State Troopers say Lance Safford of Greenboro is charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Safford’s car was going 60 mph when it slammed into the back of a car driven by Richard Carter, 57, of Greensboro, according to authorities.

Highway Patrol’s Accident Reconstruction Team says Safford never hit his breaks and evidence from his phone shows he may have been texting.

“There was no braking done by the guy that stuck him [Carter]. Zero braking. If somebody is stopped in the middle of the highway, either you’re impaired or your attention is being divided, so if you’re not going to stop for someone that’s sitting, you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be doing,” said Trooper Nathan Varney, with NC Highway Patrol.

Witnesses also say they believe Safford was texting.

“People don’t understand this, but texting and driving is almost the same attention divider like driving while impaired, you are looking down trying to text someone you aren’t paying attention to the road,” Trooper Varney said.